Vacuum condenser



Jan. 18, 1944. w. H. TEARE VACUUM CONDENSER Filed July 1, 1941 MWWW/ow00,700n00,/,I,////////,n///////X,%////\ a Z a a \l 1 Iv M --iin nI l I I A l 6 3 u I u \A 2 4 7 Z 0 P Q 2 2 Z7 Inventor. WilliamH.Teen-e, by C. His Attorney.

Patented Jan. 18, 1944 VACUUM CONDENSER William H. Teare, Schenectady,N. Y., assignor.

' ompany, a corporation of to General Electric New York Application July1, 1941, Serial No. 400,580

Claims.

The present invention relates to condensers, and more particularly tocondensers of the type in which the electrodes arearranged within anevacuated housing,

It is an object of the invention to provide a vacuum condensercomprising a, relatively few parts and which may be constructed at acomparatively low cost.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a condenser of theforegoing type having a new and improved arrangement of electrodes andsupporting means therefor.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a vacuumcondenser of a fixed capacitance type having electrodes of a simple andrugged design and which are mounted in such a manner that thepredetermined capacitance rating of the device will be maintained eventhroughout rough handling thereof.

For a consideration of what I believe to be novel and my invention,attention is directed to the following description taken in connectionwith the accompanying drawing while the features of novelty whichcharacterize the inven tion will be pointed out with greaterparticularity in the appended claims.

The single figure of the drawing is a cross-sectional view through avacuum condenser constructed in accordance with one form of theinvention.

The condenser of the illustrated embodiment is enclosed within anhermetically sealed container formed by an insulating cylinder l0 havingopposite metal end caps II and I2. The end caps in this instance are ofa cup shape having a fiat wall portion and a cylindrical peripheralflange, the flange being sealed into the end of the insulating cylinder.The cylinder l0 may be of any suitable material, for example, glass. Itwill be understood, of course, that the specific types of glass as wellas the metal for the end caps H and I2 are so selected that asatisfactory seal may be made therebetween.

Supported from the inner surface of the end caps II and I2 are aplurality of axially centered and concentrically spaced tubular orcylindrical electrodes l3 and M, respectively. The electrodes extendingtoward each other from the opposite end caps are telescopicallyinterleaved in a spaced relation, the amount of overlap being determinedby the particular capacitance rating for the device. While in theinstant embodiment the condenser comprises but two pairs of interleavedelectrodes, it will be obvious that a greater or lesser number may beprovided, as desired. The electrodes themselves are preferably made froma relatively heavy metal sheet stock which when rolled into acylindrical shape forms a relatively rigid element. It is to beunderstood, of course, that the electrodes may be made from lengths ofdrawn tubing. During the manufacture of the electrode elements each isprovided with an outwardly extending end flange as indicated at l5 andI6 for the electrodes l3 and M, respectively. These flanges are spotwelded to suitable metal backing disks l1 and I8, preferably one at atime, starting with the innermost electrode. By means of a suitable jig.the

' correct spacing between the electrodes may be maintained accuratelyduring the welding operation. The electrode assemblies are suitablysecured to the inner flat surface of the end caps ll annd l2 such as byspot welding. It will be understood that the electrodes I3 and I4 may,if desired, be welded directly to the inner end Wall of the end capsthemselves rather than through the intermediary of the backing disks l1and I8.

One of the end caps, such as I l, is provided with an exhaust tube 2|which is shown sealed oil and which communicates with the interior ofthe container through opening 22 provided in the backing disk l1.

Extending axially outwardly from the opposite end caps II and I2 arecylindrical members 23 and 24 which are provided with end flanges 25 and26, respectively, by which they are secured as by spot welding orbrazing to the correspondend caps. Inverted cup-shaped elements 21 and28 fitting closely over the cylindrical members 23 and 24, respectively,are secured thereto as by soldering to form symmetrical end terminalsfor the device. The cup-shaped terminal element 21, it will be observed,encloses the sealedoff exhaust tube 2| thereby improving the appearancefor the device.

The simplicity of the various component parts of the condenser describedand the relative ease with which they may be assembled into the finishedunit will be apparent to one skilled in the art. The opposite end unitsincluding the electrode assemblies andend caps are first built up andthen mounted in a suitable jig by means of the axially extendingcylindrical members 23 and 24. The insulating cylinder l0 may also bemounted in a suitable holder in axial alignment with the two end unitswhich are then inserted into the opposite ends of the cylinder. Heat issimultaneously applied to the opposite end edges of the cylinder l0 andthe flanges of the end caps, and at the proper temperature of theseparts the end units are moved together into engagement with the oppositeends 01' the cylinder I l and sealed thereto. The overlapping relationof the condenser electrodes l3 and I4 and the proper concentricallyspaced relation may be accurately controlled. The device may then beevacuated by means of a suitable pump connected to the exhaust tube 2|following which the tube is sealed off. The terminal caps 21 and 28 arethen soldered over the cylindrical members 23 and 24 completing theunit.

The vacuum condenser constructed as described is of a relatively ruggeddesign and yet becaus\of its ease of manufacture, the electricalcharacteristics for the device may becontrolled with a relatively highdegree of accuracy.

.Having described the principles of my invention in what I consider torepresent a preferred embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understoodthat the specific form shown is merely illustrative and that theinvention may be carried out in other ways.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates is:

l. A condenser comprising an evacuated housing including an insulatingcylinder and a metal closure for each of the opposite ends of said cylinder, interleaved overlapping concentrically spaced cylindricalelectrodes arranged in said cylinder, adjacent electrodes being securedto the opposite of said metal end closures, means on one of said metalclosures. for sealing ofi said housing after evacuation, and terminalmembers secured to and extending outwardly from the outer surface ofsaid metal closures, one of-said terminal members enclosing saidsealing. off means.

2. A condenser comprising an evacuated container including a glasscylinder, a metal end cap for each of the opposite ends of saidcylinder, a plurality of concentric tubular electrodes axially arrangedin said cylinder, said electrodes being secured at one end to one ofsaid end caps, adjacent electrodes being secured to opposite end caps,means on 'one of said metal end caps for sealing off said containerafter evacuation, and

terminal members secured to and extending or wardly from the outersurface of said metal e1 caps, one of said terminal members enclosn saidsealing of! means.

3. A condenser comprising an evacuated co: tainer including aninsulating cylinder, a met end cap for each or the opposite ends of said03 inder, a plurality of concentric tubular ele trodes arranged withinsaid cylinder, said ele trodes each having a flanged end conductivesecured to one of said end caps, the adjacent ele trodes being securedto the opposite of sa endcaps, means on one of said metal end caj forsealing of! said container after evacuatio and terminal means secured toand extendii outwardly from the outer surface of said met end caps, oneof said terminal members enclosli said sealing of! means.

4. A condenser comprising an evacuated C0] tainer including aninsulating cylinder, a met end cap sealed to each of the opposite endssaid cylinder, a plurality of concentric tubul; electrodes, each of saidelectrodes being C01 ductively secured at one end to a metal suppor ingdisk, said disks being conductively $801.11!

' to said end caps, said insulating cylinder suppor ing said end capsand the tubular electrod secured to each in coaxial relation and radialspaced from each other.

5. A vacuum condenser comprising an evaci ated container having a pairor opposite met end walls and an insulating member separatir said walls,said end walls being sealed to said 11 sulating member, a plurality ofelectrodes secur: at one end to each of said end walls, t1 other ends ofsaid electrodes being free and i1 terleaved with the corresponding endsof ele trodes secured to the opposite of said end wall cylindricalmembers secured to and extendir outwardly from the outer surface of saidan walls, means on one of said metal end walls a: within the adjacentcylindrical member for sea ing oil said container after evacuation, andour shaped terminal members fitting over said c3 lindrical members.

WILLIAM H. TEARE.

